It’s that time of year again, when skiers and snowboarders train their eyes on the sky hoping the snow will keep falling, and the rest of us grumble and complain. Of the dozens of ski resorts easily accessible to Edmontonians, many open before December with enticements — including fun events, fresh runs and special deals — aimed at both kinds of crowds­.

To get into the winter spirit, Jasper is hosting the Canadian Rockies Snow Battle at Centennial Park on Nov. 23 and 24. Teams will compete for bragging rights in an outdoor game of Yukigassen, a Japanese sport that combines dodge ball, capture the flag and snowballs, and has been gaining popularity in Canada these past few years.

Another trend getting attention from ski resorts across Alberta and British Columbia is the popularity of tube parks. These allow snow enthusiasts to descend the hill on an inflated rubber tube, in dedicated chutes and sliding lanes. “Many areas are installing these because they’re safe, easy to use and people of all ages can ride in them,” says Blain Ford, spokesman for Go Ski Alberta. “They’re fun for the whole family.” Two of the resorts on this list, Panorama and Sun Peaks, have created packages that include activities like tubing, tobogganing and skating with the purchase of a regular lift ticket.

In this competitive industry, ski and snowboard resorts are trying hard to be everything to everyone, but their bread and butter are still sweet runs in beautiful locales. Marmot Basin can attest to that marketing model: it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary as a ski resort this year. Here’s a snapshot guide to the season of 2013-2014 at 10 snow resorts within a day’s drive of Edmonton.

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin is located about a four-hour drive west of Edmonton in Jasper National Park. It has more than 1,600 acres of ski terrain and 86 trails. It’s open until early May, boasting one of the longest seasons in the Rockies. This year, visitors can expect improved reserved rentals and VIP area. Equipment can now be reserved online or via telephone so that it’s ready upon arrival. There will be lots of fun events this season as Jasper celebrates a few anniversaries. Besides Marmot’s 50th, the Jasper in January Festival celebrates its 25th birthday with a chili cook-off, winter pentathlon, live music, polar bear dip and fireworks show.

One of the perks of heading to Banff is that there are two resorts less than 20 minutes from town. Located 15 minutes away is Sunshine Village, the larger of the two with 111 trails. While there, it’s possible to ski in two provinces on one run. The resort also has an extensive terrain park for those interested in jumps and freestyle tricks. Starting in January, Sunshine will be offering restorative yoga and ski retreats. Located five minutes from Banff’s townsite is Norquay with 28 runs. It hosts four toonie days throughout the season during which Alberta residents can ski all day for the price of a cup of coffee. Another option here is skiing by the hour, perfect for those who want a quick fix or who want to also tube, snowshoe or hang out in Banff. Norquay has lots of family-friendly events like a cardboard-sled derby and Christmas Santa Shreds For Free Day — dress in full Christmas regalia to get a free day pass. Norquay is expanding its tube park and has added 12 new features to its terrain park this season.

Lake Louise Ski Resort is a classic destination for skiers and snowboarders from around the world. It’s one of the largest ski resorts in Canada with more than 4,000 acres of ski terrain and 147 runs. Every ski lift has a green and blue run leading down, so that all lifts are accessible to all levels of skiers. All hotels are located within a five to eight minute shuttle-bus ride to the resort. This season, a new bistro is opening up at the top of the White Horn Lodge. The resort has invested in snow-making and snowcats to groom runs and to transport skiers to the backcountry. In December, Lake Louise will be hosting the snowboard cross-qualifier for the Sochi Olympics.

Panorama Mountain Village, located 18 kilometres west of Invermere, B.C., has lots to choose from. About 75 per cent of its runs are suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, while a special chairlift gives skiers access to a former heli-ski terrain. All lodging guests get access to the slopeside pool and hot tubs. In January, the International Paralympic World Cup descends on Panorama where a new Alpine race course was built for the event. This season, with any lift ticket or pass, visitors get same-day access to the tube park, Nordic trails, night skiing and tobogganing.

Fernie Alpine Resort’s claim to fame is that it has five bowls, the most in North America, and more than 2,500 acres of ski terrain, 142 trails and the highest vertical in the Rockies at 1,082 metres. The resort offers ski-in and ski-out lodging. This year, the resort has installed a new winter zip line and an outdoor firepit.

Nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges near Golden, B.C., you’ll find Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. It boasts more than 2,800 acres of ski terrain, four bowls and 121 runs. If you’re looking for an elevated dining experience, try the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, which claims the highest perch in the country with staggering views of the surrounding national parks. It takes 15-minutes via gondola to reach its peak. Kicking Horse has added four new chutes this year and a new family skiing zone for children and beginners.

If you like the sun and you like the dark, Kimberley Alpine Resort has you covered. It is called the sunniest ski resort in B.C. and has some of the most extensive night skiing around. It has the longest lighted ski run in North America at 2,500 metres, and a 10 kilometre lit loop around the Kimberley Nordic Centre. Check out the Bavarian-themed downtown where you can take a train ride around the resort. This year, the children’s trail has been lengthened so it now covers 700 metres and there’s a new ski run for beginners. An added perk for northern Albertans is the direct flight from Fort McMurray to the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, B.C., which is a 20-minute drive away.

Visitors from the Edmonton area constitute Big White’s second largest market after Vancouver. Take a direct WestJet flight from Edmonton to Kelowna, flash your boarding pass and ski for free the day you fly. All accommodations are ski-in, ski-out. Groceries and liquor can be ordered online and delivered to your door. Head into the village to try the new Irish tavern The Blarney Stone or The Woods Wine and Tapas Bar. Big White has upgraded its cross-country trails so they now cover a distance of 19 km. A nifty activity for kids is skating on the highest ice-rink in Canada.

Located 50 km northeast of Kamloops, B.C., Sun Peaks Resort is the second largest resort in the province with more than 3,600 acres of terrain. The resort has two new family camps this season — racing and backcountry — for those wishing to expand and improve their skills. With the new Let’s Play Pack, visitors can enjoy a dip in the outdoor heated pool, a skate on the rink, tubing, and a turn on the bungee trampoline with their regular lift ticket. For something more laid-back, visit the resort between Jan. 11 to 19 for the 16th annual Winter Okanagan Wine Festival. The wine festival is one of more than 20 events the resort is hosting this year.

A previous version of this story misstated the number of ski runs at Sunshine Village. The correct number is 111.

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